Cubs vs. Rockies: Who has the edge in tonight's NL wild-card game at Wrigley Field?

Breaking down who has the edge in Tuesday’s wild-card game between the Cubs and the Rockies at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wrigley Field:

Starting pitching

The teams split the season series 3-3 with each team scoring 33 runs, but the only thing that matters now is the pitching. Jon Lester won Game 5 of the 2016 World Series to keep the Cubs alive after being down 3-1, then pitched in relief in Game 7 to help clinch it. He’s 9-7 in 25 postseason appearances, including 21 starts, with a 2.55 ERA. Lester also is on a hot streak, going 6-1 in his last eight starts in the regular season with a 1.71 ERA. The Rockies start left-hander Kyle Freeland, who went 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA this season, on three days rest. Left-handed hitters are batting .185 with two home runs off the 25-year-old in 157 at-bats, giving Joe Maddon some difficult lineup choices to ponder.

Edge: Cubs

Bullpen

Despite a 4.13 ERA, former Cubs closer Wade Davis has 43 saves. He is back to normal of late, posting an 0.82 ERA in September. Davis has two saves in two hitless innings against the Cubs. The failure of the Cubs bullpen contributed to the 3-1 loss to the Brewers in Monday’s 3-1 tiebreaker game at Wrigley Field, and only Jesse Chavez can be considered dominant since Pedro Strop’s hamstring injury. Carl Edwards Jr. is rested, but will Maddon trust him in a late-inning situation? Cole Hamels is available, and look for Maddon to go with his veteran starter late if the season is on the line.

Edge: Rockies

Offense

The Cubs somehow led the National League in hitting at .258, even though their lack of scoring has been their primary problem, particularly in September. Anthony Rizzo is hot, but Javier Baez has cooled off, and the Cubs still are waiting for Kris Bryant to be Kris Bryant. With a tough lefty starting, do Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward sit? The Rockies finished second in the league in runs, and Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story finished 1-2 in the NL in homers. But, like the Cubs, they’re also capable of being shut down, as they were in Tuesday’s 5-2 tiebreaker loss to the Dodgers.

Edge: Rockies

Fielding

Third baseman Arenado and second baseman DJ LeMahieu are among the best in baseball at their positions, while Heyward is a perennial Gold Glover. Javier Baez has been solid in his return to short with Addison Russell out, and David Bote has been eye-opening at third. Daniel Murphy’s scary fielding hasn’t hurt the Cubs yet, but it’s always dramatic to watch. Catcher Willson Contreras has one of the best arms in baseball and likes to takes risks.

Edge: Cubs

Manager

Joe Maddon got 95 wins out of a talented team that’s had difficulties scoring consistently all year and is one of the worst slugging teams since September began. That makes his handling of the starter and bullpen more important, and his history in that area as Cubs manager has been spotty in the postseason. Bud Black, Maddon’s old pal from the Angels, knows as much as any manager how to handle a bullpen, having been a pitching coach himself. He got 91 wins out of a team with a run differential of +35 and no big-name starters. Maddon has more postseason experience and a better career, but Black gets the nod in a one-game matchup.

Edge: Rockies

Winner: Cubs

They’re familiar with having their backs to the wall and have the perfect starter going for them in Lester. If they can scratch out a few runs early, it’s on to Wisconsin.